Why you should still “go fish”
Q: I was disappointed that your eTip on fish oil last week [5/7/08 eTip, subject line: "Heavy hitter"] made no mention, either positive or negative, of the EPA/DHA fish oil capsules taken by many of us, which concentrate the omega 3s, thus requiring us to take much less fish oil.
Dr. Wright: You’re definitely right that EPA/DHA capsules can help reduce the total volume of fish oil you might take. But I still think it’s best to continue to take at least a small quantity of fish oil or eat two to three servings of whole oily fish, like salmon or mackerel, each week along with those capsules of EPA/DHA.
Don’t forget that many nutrients come in “complexes” with other nutrients. Examples include tocopherols, carotenoids, and the B-complex. There are other omega-3 fatty acids and probably other useful nutrients in whole fish oil that you can’t get in EPA/DHA capsules alone. That’s why it’s a good idea to use some of “the whole thing” along with extra amounts of certain fractions (like EPA/DHA) to get the most health benefit.
